The Winnipeg Jets gave the Washington Capitals reason to keep hope alive.

In what was a glorious opportunity to snuff out the Capitals' slim playoff chances with a series sweep in a rare double-header, the Jets basically laid an egg on Thursday night, falling 4-0 to the visitors before a dejected crowd of 15,004 at MTS Centre.

The Jets were nine points up going into the contest and that lead has been trimmed to seven, with another head-to-head match-up set for Friday.

At least one Jets player was looking for answers to the poor start out of the gate.

“I think it’s been three games that we had a little bit of a rough start now. Three in a row,” said Jets winger Antti Miettinen. “I don’t know what the reason is?

“It’s never nice to put games like this behind you, but (Friday) comes fast. You definitely can’t be feeling too disappointed. Just try to channel the anger or disappointment into some good energy.”

Fortunately for the Jets, they got some help on the out-of-town scoreboard as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1, allowing the Jets to remain in third place in the Eastern Conference and in first place in the Southeast Division — two points ahead of the Hurricanes (who hold a game in hand).

Although the Capitals need a series sweep, the Jets can minimize the damage by bouncing back with a better effort on Friday night.

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: You have to appreciate the fact that Capitals goalie Braden Holtby has now posted back-to-back shutouts at MTS Centre against the Jets.

You also have to give a great deal of credit to the Capitals for forcing the majority of the shots in those two games to the outside.

On Thursday, Holtby did come up with two solid saves on Miettinen, who was the beneficiary of a couple of pretty passes on 2-on-1 rushes, the first from Olli Jokinen and the second, a dandy from Evander Kane.

The Jets were trailing 2-0 in the third when Miettinen came across the crease and made a strong move to his backhand but was unable to convert.

“Yeah, on the second one I just failed to lift the puck high enough and he had his pad there,” said Miettinen. “It was a little execution failure there, not being able to get it up.”

DECISIONS, DECISIONS: One would expect Noel to give goalie Ondrej Pavelec a breather in one of the next two games here.

After all, the Jets are in a busy stretch of three games in four days and Pavelec has started eight consecutive games, 19 of the past 20.

I don’t think for a second that fatigue was an issue in this one, but it will be interesting to see which direction Noel leans.

After a tough loss, conventional thinking would say go back with your best — Pavelec — in the rematch.

Furthermore, by starting Al Montoya on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, you would also give Pavelec an extra day of rest before going back to him in Tuesday’s game against the Hurricanes.

Montoya has been excellent for the Jets, posting a 3-0 record and winning all three starts he’s finished.

The latest recurrence of his groin injury was especially frustrating for Montoya to deal with.

“It’s tough, but it’s part of the game. You want to stay fresh and you want to be part of this group,” said Montoya. “There’s something special that is going on in this locker room right now. I want to contribute what I can.”

DECISIONS II: Although Noel wasn’t able to provide much in terms of an update on Mark Stuart, if the Jets’ gritty defenceman is not available to play on Friday, it would open the door for the possible return of Toby Enstrom, who has been on the shelf since Feb. 15.

Stuart went to the dressing room initially after he was involved in a collision with Alex Ovechkin late in the second period.

Stuart came out for the third period but played only one shift before he made his way back to the dressing room and didn’t return.

The Jets have talked about the importance of not rushing him back too early but Enstrom has also said he’s been feeling good for the past week and change and it’s clearly that D-partner Dustin Byfuglien would benefit from having him back.

“We all know what it’s going to mean to the team,” Byfuglien said Thursday morning. “He’s one of our key guys back there. He moves the puck well and he’s just a solid, stay-at-home guy.”

Enstrom had two goals and 13 points in 13 games with the Jets before suffering the injury .

If the Jets decide to hold out Enstrom until Sunday or possibly even next week, Paul Postma could be summoned from the press box after sitting out seven consecutive games as a healthy scratch.

WRIGHT STUFF: Jets winger James Wright has been doing a lot of good things lately and on Thursday, he unveiled another element of his game, getting involved in a pretty good scrap with Capitals’ blue-liner Steve Oleksy.

Wright took exception to a hit Oleksy delivered and the two settled things by dropping the gloves in a spirited bout.

“I didn’t think I had the puck. It is what it is. We exchanged words there and then I thought, it’s 2-0 and a good opportunity,” said Wright.

Jets squandered glorious opportunity against Capitals

The Winnipeg Jets gave the Washington Capitals reason to keep hope alive.

In what was a glorious opportunity to snuff out the Capitals' slim playoff chances with a series sweep in a rare double-header, the Jets basically laid an egg on Thursday night, falling 4-0 to the visitors before a dejected crowd of 15,004 at MTS Centre.

The Jets were nine points up going into the contest and that lead has been trimmed to seven, with another head-to-head match-up set for Friday.

At least one Jets player was looking for answers to the poor start out of the gate.

“I think it’s been three games that we had a little bit of a rough start now. Three in a row,” said Jets winger Antti Miettinen. “I don’t know what the reason is?

“It’s never nice to put games like this behind you, but (Friday) comes fast. You definitely can’t be feeling too disappointed. Just try to channel the anger or disappointment into some good energy."